Summary of Dogen on Meditation and Thinking: A Reflection on His View of Zen by Hee-Jin Kim

Dive into Dogen's Zen thoughts with Hee-Jin Kim! Explore meditation as a way of life and discover enlightenment through awareness and presence.

Welcome to the delightful, slightly confusing, and undoubtedly profound world of Zen thought! In Dogen on Meditation and Thinking, Hee-Jin Kim invites us to plunge into the intricacies of the mind of Dogen, a 13th-century Japanese Zen master who, bless his heart, had thoughts about everything-especially meditation.

Now, if you've ever thought about meditation and just ended up thinking about thinking instead, congratulations! You're on the right track! Dogen's approach combines the art of sitting still (which sounds deceptively easy) with a contemplative dance of thoughts. Kim takes us through Dogen's philosophy while reminding us that it's totally okay to feel puzzled by life's mysteries because, well, so did Dogen!

The book dives into Dogen's seminal writings, exploring his views on meditation-not just as a practice but as a way of life and a radical rethinking of existence itself. He believed that meditation isn't just about disconnecting from the chaos of the world; it's more like throwing yourself into that chaos while maintaining a Zen-like calm. You know, the equivalent of calmly sipping tea while surrounded by a three-ring circus.

Want to know Dogen's secret sauce? It's all about awareness and presence. Kim reveals how Dogen conceptualizes shikantaza-the act of just sitting. But here's the kicker: sitting isn't just sitting when you're Dogen. No, it's a deep dive into being completely absorbed in the moment, like a squirrel who forgot where it buried its acorns but somehow feels entirely fulfilled doing. squirrel things.

As we meander through the chapters, Kim elucidates Dogen's take on the relationship between meditation and thinking. In a wild twist, Dogen suggests that our endless chatter can lead to enlightenment! So, basically, all those times you were ruminating over what to have for dinner-a snack of existential insight! Who knew that were deep thinkers just trying to figure out their next meal?

And just when you think you've got it all figured out, Kim tosses in some delightful philosophical nuggets-Dogen's insights on time and space, causality, and how our perceptions shape our reality. Spoiler alert: It turns out that everything may be connected in ways that would make your head spin, so maybe meditate on that for a while!

In conclusion, if you're looking for a light read that will enlighten your mind while simultaneously making you scratch your head, this book is a goldmine. Dogen on Meditation and Thinking is not just a stroll through a Zen garden; it's more like a hike up a mountain where you might just discover that the real peak is the realization that there is no peak-just a never-ending journey of thought. So grab your meditation cushion, position yourself like the Zen master you aspire to be, and enjoy the introspective ride!

Maddie Page

Classics, bestsellers, and guilty pleasures-none are safe from my sarcastic recaps. I turn heavy reads into lighthearted summaries you can actually enjoy. Warning: may cause random outbursts of laughter while pretending to study literature.